Another week, another 10+ submissions for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar race. We're up to 15 official titles now (which means there are about 50 to go). We previously covered Germany's finalist list but they didn't go with the youthful hit comedy Oh Boy after all but with the drama Two Lives,which we highlighted as a strong possibility given its war themes and the presence of Liv Ullman in the cast list.

But the German news is just scratching the surface of what's going on in the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar race.

FINALISTS AND SPECULATION

"Thy Womb"'s Nora Aunor won several Best Actress prizes at festivals

THE PHILIPPINESThey've recently announced a list of 8 finalists although, to make things confusing, they are still willing to look at more films that aren't on the list in case of late arrivals to the cinema. But chances are the film will come from this list: Supremo, Boses, El Presidente, Thy Womb (from the acclaimed Brillante Mendoza), Dance of the Steel Bars (inspired by a true story of prison inmate dancing videos going viral), Pinoy superstar Eugene Domingo (Ploning, The Woman in the Septic Tank) might be representing her country again in Tuhog, and finally director Erik Matti has two opportunities for submission since he has two films on the list On the Job and Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles. You may recall I was bummed that The Phillipines missed last year since I loved their entry Bwakaw. They've yet to be nominated for an Oscar.

"I Am Yours" might be the submission from Norway

NORWAY I was just visiting earlier this summer! Norway has announced their three finalists for Oscar submission. The Norwegian Oscar committee will be choosing between Arild Østin Ommundsen’sIt’s Only Make Believe (Eventyrland) about a woman convicted for shooting two people who is released from prison, Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Pioneer about a deep sea diver, and Iram Haq’s I Am Yours (Jeg er din) about a Norwegian Pakistani woman falling in love. The latter starsOla Rapace (the ex Mr. Noomi who was recently in Skyfall) and Amrita Acharia and I'm hoping to seeit at TIFF. None of these directors have been submitted in previous years. Norway won't be announcing their official candidate until September 20th. The land of the midnight sun has been nominated for the Oscar fem ganger (most recently last season with Kon-Tiki) but has yet to win the gold.

Fernanda Montenegro in "Time and the Wind"BRAZIL Brazil has not released a finalist list or an official submission but longtime fans of this category (and of The Film Experience which has always had a loyal following in Brazil!) should note that it's very possible that Fernanda Montenegro, Best Actress nominated for Central Station (1998), could be back on Academy screens. The 83 year old acting icon co-stars in the lush period drama Time and the Wind. It’s from director Jayme Monjardim, whose film Olga was submitted in its year, and it’s based on a beloved series of historical novels set in the colonial era.

MEXICO & PORTUGALThey've both released very long finalists lists of 15 and 16 films respectively. Here is Mexico's list and Portugal's (which is harder to read). Any guesses?

15 ½ OFFICIAL SUBMISSIONS THUS FAR

AUSTRIA The WallBULGARIA Colour of the ChameleonDOMINICAN REPUBLICWho's the Boss?FINLAND The DiscipleGERMANY Two LivesGREECEBoy Eating the Bird's FoodHUNGARY The NotebookLUXEMBOURG Blind SpotMONTENEGRO Debut Submission!Bad DestinyNEPALSoongava: Dance of the OrchidsTHE NETHERLANDS Borgman --Though it's been referred to in some articles here and there as the Dutch Oscar entry, this is not official (yet). Just widely assumedROMANIA Child's PoseSINGAPORE Ilo IloSOUTH KOREAJuvenile OffenderTURKEY The Butterfly's DreamVENEZUELABreach in the Silence

Nepal is sending the lesbian romantic drama "SOONGAVA: DANCE OF THE ORCHIDS

Reader Comments (31)

As far as ex-Yugoslavia goes, I'm pretty sure these will be the submissions:Serbia - CirclesBosnia and Herzegovina - An Episode in the Life of an Iron PickerCroatia - A StrangerSlovenia - Shanghai Gypsy

I think either Serbia or Bosnia gets in this year, both films were big hits with both the critics and the audiences on local film festivals, and Tanović is an Oscar winner already. Croatia and Slovenia definitely have no shot.

i think Brazil will probably submit the movie about Elizabeth Bishop! this right here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2217458/

i guess it's called "Reaching for the Moon" in english, which is a ridiculously bad title!! The movie's gotten good reviews by local critics, though, and it was well received in Berlin last year.I haven't seen it yet, but it seems good Foreign Feature Film material: it's set in a beautiful part of Rio, it's based on the life of an American poet with whom American audiences are most likely familiar with and, last but not least, there's the whole homosexual/forbidden-love thing, which is something voters in this category might be attracted to.

My local arthouse cinema is having it's annual Southeast Asian Film Festival currently, and so I will have the opportunity to see both THY WOMB and ILO, ILO in the coming fortnight. ON THE JOB is also screening, and it wasn't on my to-see list initially, but maybe I should pencil it in as well?

Nathaniel, as expected, Chile officially submitted Gloria as its entry earlier today. I doubt it'll eventually make it, but the movie is playing in EVERY festival and getting pretty good reviews internationally.

The special committee of the Film Academy of the Philippines which will choose the official Philippine entry to the best foreign-language category of the Oscars next year has come up with a shortlist of eight films though it will still consider other films which will be shown in September.

Since the year 1996, a FAP special committee has been selecting the country’s annual entry to the Oscars. FAP Director-General Leo G. Martinez announced that Director Peque Gallaga has replaced special committee chairman National Artist for Film Director Eddie Romero who passed away recently.

The seven members of the special committee which Director Gallaga will join are the following: Actor/Director Robert Arevalo, FAP deputy director-general; Director Jose N. Carreon, secretary of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc.; Director William Mayo, president of the Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association;

Manny Morfe, president of the Production Designers Guild of the Philippines; Jess Navarro, president of the United Film Editors Guild of the Philippines; Director Elwood Perez; and Actress-Directress Gina Alajar of the Actors’ Guild.

Oscar Award rules for the best foreign language film category stipulate that to qualify, the Philippine entry must have been commercially exhibited in the country for at least seven consecutive days during the period from October, 2012 to September, 2013. A Filipino must be in two of the three capacities as film producer, director or scriptwriter.

2) El Presidente (film)CEB Rated A/ Shown Dec. 25, 2012El Presidente is a biopic film based on the life of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic. The film stars Laguna Gov. Jeorge Estregan in the title role, with Cesar Montano, Christopher de Leon, Nora Aunor, and Cristine Reyes in supporting roles. It is directed and written by Mark Meily based on the memoirs of Gen. Aguinaldo. It is produced b Scenema Concept International, CMB Films and VIVA Films.

3) Thy WombCED Rated A/Shown Dec. 25, 2012The film is directed by Brillante Mendoza and stars Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco and Lovi Poe and produced by Center Stage Productions and was one of the 8 official entries to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival.

4) Dance of the Steel Bars (2013)CEB Rated A/Shown June 12/2013The film is directed by Cesar Apolinario and Marnie Manicad and starsDingdong Dantes, Patrick Bergin, Ricky Davao and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia as herself. The film was inspired by actual events in a Cebu prison where the group dancig of the inmates became viral in the internet worldwide.

5) Ekstra/ The Bit PlayerCEB Rated A/ Shown August 14, 2013The film is directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and stars Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan, a film extra who spends her days dreaming of her big break while working with the country’s best small screen actors. The film competed under the Directors Showcase sidebar of Cinemalaya 2013. It is produced by Cinemalaya, Quantum Films and Star Cinema.

8) Boses (2008)Shown July 31, 2013The film tells the story of a violin teacher and his student, a mute 7-year old abused child in a shelter, who develop a friendship stemming from their love of music. It was a directed by Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil. It was first exhibited during the 2008 Cinemalaya Indie Film Festival.

9) OTJ (On the Job)Booked for showing August 28, 2013The film is directed by Erik Matti and co-produced by Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment and stars Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, Angel Aquino, Vivian Velez, Shaina Magdayao, William Martinez, Rayver Cruz and Empress. OTJ had its world premiere at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, one of the 21 feature films included in the Directors’ Fortnight line-up. In the film, Gerald is cast as an inmate working as a hitman or professional killer while Piolo portrays the NBI agent tasked to hunt him down.

The special committee of the Film Academy of the Philippines which will choose the official Philippine entry to the best foreign-language category of the Oscars next year has come up with a shortlist of eight films though it will still consider other films which will be shown in September.

Since the year 1996, a FAP special committee has been selecting the country’s annual entry to the Oscars. FAP Director-General Leo G. Martinez announced that Director Peque Gallaga has replaced special committee chairman National Artist for Film Director Eddie Romero who passed away recently.

The seven members of the special committee which Director Gallaga will join are the following: Actor/Director Robert Arevalo, FAP deputy director-general; Director Jose N. Carreon, secretary of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc.; Director William Mayo, president of the Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association;

Manny Morfe, president of the Production Designers Guild of the Philippines; Jess Navarro, president of the United Film Editors Guild of the Philippines; Director Elwood Perez; and Actress-Directress Gina Alajar of the Actors’ Guild.

Oscar Award rules for the best foreign language film category stipulate that to qualify, the Philippine entry must have been commercially exhibited in the country for at least seven consecutive days during the period from October, 2012 to September, 2013. A Filipino must be in two of the three capacities as film producer, director or scriptwriter.

2) El Presidente (film)CEB Rated A/ Shown Dec. 25, 2012El Presidente is a biopic film based on the life of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic. The film stars Laguna Gov. Jeorge Estregan in the title role, with Cesar Montano, Christopher de Leon, Nora Aunor, and Cristine Reyes in supporting roles. It is directed and written by Mark Meily based on the memoirs of Gen. Aguinaldo. It is produced b Scenema Concept International, CMB Films and VIVA Films.

3) Thy WombCED Rated A/Shown Dec. 25, 2012The film is directed by Brillante Mendoza and stars Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco and Lovi Poe and produced by Center Stage Productions and was one of the 8 official entries to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival.

4) Dance of the Steel Bars (2013)CEB Rated A/Shown June 12/2013The film is directed by Cesar Apolinario and Marnie Manicad and starsDingdong Dantes, Patrick Bergin, Ricky Davao and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia as herself. The film was inspired by actual events in a Cebu prison where the group dancig of the inmates became viral in the internet worldwide.

5) Ekstra/ The Bit PlayerCEB Rated A/ Shown August 14, 2013The film is directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and stars Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan, a film extra who spends her days dreaming of her big break while working with the country’s best small screen actors. The film competed under the Directors Showcase sidebar of Cinemalaya 2013. It is produced by Cinemalaya, Quantum Films and Star Cinema.

8) Boses (2008)Shown July 31, 2013The film tells the story of a violin teacher and his student, a mute 7-year old abused child in a shelter, who develop a friendship stemming from their love of music. It was a directed by Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil. It was first exhibited during the 2008 Cinemalaya Indie Film Festival.

9) OTJ (On the Job)Booked for showing August 28, 2013The film is directed by Erik Matti and co-produced by Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment and stars Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, Angel Aquino, Vivian Velez, Shaina Magdayao, William Martinez, Rayver Cruz and Empress. OTJ had its world premiere at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, one of the 21 feature films included in the Directors’ Fortnight line-up. In the film, Gerald is cast as an inmate working as a hitman or professional killer while Piolo portrays the NBI agent tasked to hunt him down.

The Bit Player/Ekstra is A Loving Tribute To Extras With Great Performances. All extras in real life will love the director Jeffrey Jeturian and lead star Vilma Santos for showing in this film the humor and the soul of the experiences they go through in the course of their job. What’s nice about the film is that, as a real homage to extras, they listed down the names of all the extras who were involved in the film at the end credits.

I have seen The Bit Player (Ekstra) from the Philippines. It's a very entertaining film that brings us into the world of a bit player or "extra" in the punishing world of television soap opera. This was more than just a glimpse. We get an in-depth, no-holds-barred, brutally frank expose on how bit players are treated on and off the set of a location shoot.

As we celebrate one year of worldwide acclaim for "Thy Womb", His Excellency Vice President Jejomar Binay, the Honorable Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Loren Legarda, and former Senator Santanina Rasul and Honorable Amina Rasul-Bernardo of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs, have formally endorsed "Thy Womb" to the Film Academy of the Philippines to choose the film as the country's bet for the Oscars! MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

IN CELEBRATION of one year of worldwide acclaim for "Thy Womb", we have created this special commemorative poster featuring all the international film festivals where the film participated in competition or exhibition. Can you name all the festivals included here? Cheers to a GLORIOUS year for "Thy Womb"!

The Bit Player/Ekstra (Philippines) bagged six awards at the recently concluded Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film festival, including Special Jury Prize, Netpac (Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema) Special Award, Audience Choice Award, and Best Actress (VILMA SANTOS) It also was the festival’s top grosser.

VILMA SANTOS shines in another career-defining performance as a bit player without making extra efforts to stand out, but by blending with the crowd and acting as one of them, sharing the scenes with them and giving them the opportunity to do their parts. Vilma Santos as a bit player Loida is a testament to her versatility and wide range as an actress.

Vilma Santos, the enduring Grand Dame of the Philippine film industry, delivers a performance of grace, courage, and peerless comic timing as a single mother toiling as a lowly TV extra in the latest film from veteran director Jeffrey Jeturian (Trespassers).

The Bit Player is a socio-realist drama-comedy that follows a seemingly usual day in the life of Loida Malabanan (Vilma Santos-Recto) as she embarks on yet another day on the set of a soap opera as an extra. As the shoot goes on, we get a glimpse of the truth in the ruling system of the production as well as the exploitation of marginalized labourers like her.

Agree with the post about Reaching for the Moon. Likewise, I believe, Gloria would be a formidable inclusion from Chile. Pardon me, but reading through the posts, what the heck does "star for all seasons" mean? I literally spit out my drink after reading it. Surely some absurdly made up title for the sake of having one! Funny.